People v. Johnson
Decision Date | 23 December 2015 |
Docket Number | No. 3–14–0364.,3–14–0364. |
Citation | 46 N.E.3d 937 |
Parties | The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. Tracy Eugene JOHNSON, Defendant–Appellant. |
Court | United States Appellate Court of Illinois |
Michael J. Pelletier and Peter A. Carusona, both of State Appellate Defender's Office, Ottawa, for appellant.
John L. McGehee, State's Attorney, Rock Island (Terry A. Mertel, of State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Office, of counsel), for the People.
¶ 1 Defendant, Tracy Eugene Johnson, appeals from his burglary conviction, 30–year prison sentence, and judgment that ordered defendant to the “pay the costs of prosecution herein.” On appeal, defendant argues that the matter should be remanded with directions for the trial court to review and correct the recorded judgment for “costs” and enter the correct amount of all financial charges in a written order supported by statutory authority. We vacate the order for the “costs of prosecution” and remand with directions.
¶ 3 Defendant was charged by information with burglary (720 ILCS 5/19–1(a) (West 2012)). The charging instrument alleged that defendant committed the offense on June 21, 2013. The case proceeded to a jury trial, and at the conclusion of the trial, the jury found defendant guilty.
¶ 4 On March 28, 2014, the court sentenced defendant to 30 years' imprisonment. The court awarded defendant credit for time spent in presentence custody from June 26, 2013, to March 28, 2014, a total of 276 days. The written judgment also ordered defendant to “pay the costs of prosecution herein.”
¶ 5 On April 9, 2014, the circuit clerk entered the judgment for costs in the amount of $409.02. On April 17, 2014, defendant filed a motion to reconsider his sentence which did not challenge the judgment of $409.02. On April 25, 2014, after the court denied defendant's motion to reconsider his sentence, defendant filed a notice of appeal.
¶ 6 A payment status information sheet, dated July 16, 2014, is included in the record on appeal. The payment status sheet contains the following information:
“Clerk | 100.00 | ||
State's Atty | 50.00 | ||
Sheriff | 67.02 | ||
Court | 50.00 | ||
Automation | 15.00 | ||
Violent Crime | 20.00 | ||
Judicial Security | 25.00 | ||
Document Storage | 15.00 | ||
Medical Costs | 10.00 | ||
Youth Diversion | 5.00 | ||
Clerk Op Deduction | 0.25 | ||
Drug Court | 4.75 | ||
Clerk Op Add–Ons | 10.00 | ||
State Police Svcs | 10.00 | ||
State Police Ops | 15.00 | ||
SA Automation Fee | 2.00 | ||
Probation Ops Fee | 10.00 | ||
Total | 409.02.” |
¶ 8 The only issue raised on appeal involves a challenge to the monetary component of defendant's sentence. Defendant asks this court to enter a summary order remanding the matter with direction for the trial court to order any mandated statutory fines and for the circuit clerk to disclose and name of those additional costs imposed by the clerk. Defendant also asks this court to direct the trial court to award the $5–per–day presentence incarceration credit for eligible fines. 725 ILCS 5/110–14 (West 2014).
¶ 9 The State opposes a summary remand, in part, because “defendant was ordered to pay costs” and “there is no indication that any fines were ordered.” Contrary to the State's conclusory assertion, the July 16, 2014, payment status information sheet contained in this record refutes the State's argument. The payment sheet clearly reveals the following fines were included in the judgment total of $409.02: $50 court system fund fine ( 55 ILCS 5/5–1101(c) (West 2012); People v. Ackerman, 2014 IL App (3d) 120585, ¶ 30, 381 Ill.Dec. 385, 10 N.E.3d 470 ( )); $20 Violent Crimes Victims Assistance Fund fine1 (725 ILCS 240/10(b)(1) (West 2012); People v. Higgins, 2014 IL App (2d) 120888, ¶ 29, 382 Ill.Dec. 756, 13 N.E.3d 169 ( )); $10 medical costs fine (730 ILCS 125/17 (West 2012) ; People v. Jernigan, 2014 IL App (4th) 130524, ¶ 38, 387 Ill.Dec. 958, 23 N.E.3d 650 ( )); $5 youth diversion fine (55 ILCS 5/5–1101(e) (West 2012); People v. Graves, 235 Ill.2d 244, 251–54, 335 Ill.Dec. 881, 919 N.E.2d 906 (2009) ( )); and $5 drug court fine (55 ILCS 5/5–1101(f) (West 2012); People v. Warren, 2014 IL App (4th) 120721, ¶ 131, 383 Ill.Dec. 831, 16 N.E.3d 13 ( )).
¶ 10 The above listed fines may only be imposed by an order of the trial court. Warren, 2014 IL App (4th) 120721, ¶ 82, 383 Ill.Dec. 831, 16 N.E.3d 13 ( ). The clerk of the court is a nonjudicial member of the court, and it has no power to levy fines. People v. Shaw, 386 Ill.App.3d 704, 710, 325 Ill.Dec. 708, 898 N.E.2d 755 (2008). A fine imposed by the circuit clerk is void. People v. Larue, 2014 IL App (4th) 120595, ¶ 56, 381 Ill.Dec. 550, 10 N.E.3d 959. To date, with reference to monetary sentencing errors, our supreme court has held that “[a] challenge to an alleged void order is not subject to forfeiture” and may be raised for the first time in a reviewing court. People v. Marshall, 242 Ill.2d 285, 302, 351 Ill.Dec. 172, 950 N.E.2d 668 (2011).
¶ 11 We recognize that correctly calculating the financial component of a felony sentence has become a very complex process, in part, because the various fines and costs are codified in several different Acts. See People v. Williams, 2013 IL App (4th) 120313, ¶ 25, 372 Ill.Dec. 424, 991 N.E.2d 914 ( ). In Williams, our respected colleagues from the Fourth District Appellate Court included an appendix with their opinion for the purpose of guiding the circuit courts, circuit clerks, prosecutors, and defense attorneys in that district. Id. ¶ 25. Similarly, in this case, we follow the precedent established in Williams and attach our own appendix2 concerning fines and costs for the purpose of providing guidance to the trial courts in the Third District struggling with the same financial sentencing issues.
¶ 12 In conclusion, we vacate the monetary assessments imposed by the clerk in the amount of $409.02. We remand the matter to the trial court to review and correct the monetary component of defendant's sentence and allow the $5–per–day presentence incarceration credit towards the eligible fines.
1 Because defendant's offense was...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
People v. Carter
...235 Ill.2d at 255, 335 Ill.Dec. 881, 919 N.E.2d 906 ); (3) the $4.75 drug court fee and the $0.25 “Clerk Op Deduction” (People v. Johnson, 2015 IL App (3d) 140364, ¶ 9, 399 Ill.Dec. 618, 46 N.E.3d 937 ); (4) the $15 State Police Operations Assistance Fund fee (People v. Millsap, 2012 IL App......
-
People v. Ammons
...motion, we direct the trial court to consider the information contained in the appendix to our decision in People v. Johnson , 2015 IL App (3d) 140364, 399 Ill.Dec. 618, 46 N.E.3d 937, when recalculating any monetary components of its judgment order.¶ 72 CONCLUSION¶ 73 For the foregoing rea......
-
People v. Cox
...355 Ill.Dec. 417, 959 N.E.2d 1150 (a fine is imposed as part of a sentence on a person convicted of a criminal offense); People v. Johnson , 2015 IL App (3d) 140364, ¶¶ 10, 399 Ill.Dec. 618, 46 N.E.3d 937, 11 ("fines may only be imposed by an order of the trial court," because they are "the......
-
People v. Brown
...These assessments total $660. ¶ 40 This court has found each of the above listed assessments to be fines. People v. Johnson , 2015 IL App (3d) 140364, 399 Ill.Dec. 618, 46 N.E.3d 937 (appendix). Indeed, the State does not argue otherwise, nor does it argue that the circuit clerk had any aut......